Lessinger Inks Another 2011 Recruit

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TAMPA- The University of South Florida volleyball team has signed another player to its 2011 recruiting class as head coach Claire Lessinger announced the addition of Casey Albano to the incoming 2011 class on Thursday.

"We are thrilled about Casey's commitment to USF,” Lessinger said. “She has incredible ball control and defensive skills.”

Albano, the 5’5’’ libero from Orlando, comes to USF from Lake Mary High School where she was a three year starter and broke the school’s single season dig record with 705.

“She fills an immediate void for us as our biggest weakness last year was in serve receive and back court defense,” Lessinger said.

At Lake Mary, Albano was named all-conference three times, and led her team to a district championship in her senior season.

Albano also played at the Orlando Volleyball Academy under the tutelage of coach Yvonne Devlin.

“Casey will add a huge spark to our squad with her passion, personality and most importantly she will keep the ball off the floor with her relentless effort and natural ability,” Lessinger said.

The newcomer impressed the coaching staff off the court as well as on the court, as Albano posts a 4.25 GPA placing her in the top five percent of her class. Albano was also a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and was named to the President’s Honor Roll in all four years of high school.

Along with volleyball, Albano was a member of Lake Mary’s 6A Conference Championship weightlifting team.

Albano comes from a family with a rich sports history, as her uncle, Scot Stapleton, played basketball at USF, and her father Ralph played baseball at Jacksonville University before getting drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.

Albano will join the other members of the Bulls’ 2011 recruiting class in time for the fall season.